Irene Frattalone, age 93, died March 18, 2013 at GracePointe Crossing Gables East after a courageous five year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A private memorial will be held.
Irene was born July 14, 1919 in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin to Antonio and Anne Kamish. Irene married George Robinson and they had eight children. Irene and George raised their children in Vadnais Heights. Irene was a hard worker and entrepreneur who did everything from work as a seamstress at a ST. Paul theatre to owning her own 3.2 bar in Little Canada. She loved working in her yard and could make anything grow. She had a great personality and always had a smile on her face. Irene was a fun person to be around and she enjoyed life to its fullest. For the last three years she has lived at GracePointe Gables East where she received excellent care from many caregivers.
She is survived by six children, Pat Wheelock of St. Paul, Fran (Mike) Kosel Mendota Heights, Bonnie Klande of Brook Park, Cathy Williams of St. Paul, Donald Robinson of White Bear, and Deborah (Patrick) Carlisle of Camano Island, Washington; and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands, George Robinson and Charles Frattalone; son, George Robinson, Jr.; daughter Barbara Hartwig; and 11 siblings, Frank, Jim, Ray, Kenneth, Anton, Ellen, Dorothy, Teresa, Florence and Elnea.
So sorry to hear of Irene’s passing. We were next-door neighbors for more than 25 years. Nobody could have asked for a better neighbor. We had countless chats with her about gardening, children, the neighborhood, home repair and a hundred other things. We had the opportunity to get to know her children, too, and they were also a friendly and enjoyable bunch. It is no exaggeration that Irene had a real gift for gardening and beautifying her home – we learned a lot from her. We were privileged to know her and wish she was still living right next door.